Russia Resumes Nord Stream Natural-Gas Supply to Europe

Russia Resumes Nord Stream Natural-Gas Supply to Europe

Russia Resumes Nord Stream Natural-Gas Supply to Europe

Moscow : Russia is resuming supplies of gas via a major pipeline to Europe on Thursday, the pipeline operator said, amid concerns Moscow would use its vast energy exports to push back against Western pressure over its invasion of Ukraine.

The resumption of gas flows via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany ended a nerve-jangling 10 days for Europe in which politicians expressed concern Russia might not restart them at a time when alternative energy supplies are tight and prices high. The pipeline has traditionally carried more than one third of Russia's gas exports to Europe but was operating at only 40% of its capacity after Kremlin-controlled Gazprom cut gas exports in a row over the repair of a turbine. "In view of the missing 60% (capacity) and the political instability, there is no reason yet to give the all-clear," Klaus Mueller, president of Germany's network regulator, wrote on Twitter.

The resumption of pipeline at reduced capacity comes after comments from Russia's Foreign Minister showed the Kremlin’s goals had expanded during the five-month war.

Sergei Lavrov told a state news agency on Wednesday that Russia's “military tasks in Ukraine now go beyond the eastern Donbas region”. “Russia is blackmailing us. It is using energy as a weapon,” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, describing a full cut-off of gas flows as “a likely scenario” for which “Europe needs to be ready”. — Reuters

West to blame for its problems: Kremlin

The Kremlin said on Thursday that all difficulties with the supply of Russian natural gas to Europe were caused by Western restrictions, after a major gas pipeline was restarted at below capacity following maintenance. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia remained “a very important and indispensable part of European energy security”. He said because of sanctions imposed by the European Union, Nord Stream 1 faced challenges in equipment maintenance. “The restrictions imposed by the Europeans are the reason for their problems,” he said. Reuters